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Switzerland – work permit quota numbers to be reduced in 2015

Beginning January 1, 2015, and pursuant to a recent amendment to the Swiss Ordinance on Admission, Stay, and Employment (OASA), the number of Swiss work and residence permits available to foreign nationals will be reduced in 2015.

Quota Reductions for Non-EU/EFTA nationals

The quota for (L) short-term work and residence permits will be reduced from 5,000 to 4,000. The quota for (B) long-term work and residence permits will be reduced from 3,500 to 2,500. Half of these quota numbers will continue to be allocated to the cantons while the other half will be held by the Swiss Confederation and kept as a reserve.

Quota Reductions for EU nationals

The quota for (L) short-term work and residence permits will be reduced from 3,000 to 2,000. The quota for (B) long-term work and residence permits will be reduced from 500 to 250. These quota numbers will continue to be released to the cantons on a quarterly basis and there will not be separate federal reserve numbers available.

Because of this fairly significant reduction in work permit quota numbers, employers planning to transfer employees to Switzerland are encouraged to plan ahead in order to have the best chance at obtaining a quota number for 2015.

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